Is Church Changing the Way that You Live?

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Inspired by Inspiration

When I say we should be inspired by inspiration, I mean that we should be inspired by the Word of God, which is inspired by the Spirit of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Faith comes by the hearing of the Word of Christ, and since we know that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1, 14), the inspiration comes from the hearing of the Bible. When the Bible takes second or third place at services, you can almost guarantee that no one’s going to be inspired at church. If you’re not hearing the inspired Word of God at church, you’re probably not going to be inspired. And if you’re not being inspired by the Word of God at church, it’s likely not going to change the way you live.

Is Church Changing You?

If church is not changing you, then maybe you should be changing your church (but don’t do it yet–read the last paragraph to see why I say that). I understand that true, lasting change comes by the Spirit of God, but a church that is not centrally focused on the true passion of Christ (Isaiah 53:5) is not really focused on Christ. The reason Jesus came to earth was to redeem sinners who are unworthy and to purchase for Himself, by His own blood, a people of God to be called the children of God. At a recent Resurrection Sunday service, we had a segment of the song “Blessed Redeemer” interwoven with parts of the movie “The Passion of the Christ,” and people wept. They left church much differently than when they came in. That’s what church should do. When the Word of God gets into the people of God, the change by God makes the children of God live differently.

You as the Agent of Change

A lot of people might not like their church and things about it. So how about this: Change it yourself! You can be an agent of change in your church by giving people encouragement, thanking them for what they do, inviting them out for lunch after church, joining an evangelism team, starting a ministry, or whatever else you can think of. We need one another, and no part of the body of Christ is dishonorable. We need one another. If you are not inspired by your church, be part of the solution instead of doing nothing about it. Your being there might be why God has placed you there. God has “arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose” (1 Corinthians 12:18); that includes you, of course. If you can inspire others, you can make the church more inspiring, and if the church is more inspiring, it can change the way people live.

A Closing Prayer

God, my Father, please help me to be an agent of positive change and inspiration for others. Use me by Your Spirit to elevate others and glorify God. Thank You for Your church and for Your Son, in whose awesome name I pray.

Amen

Living The Life God Wants For You

Colossians 1:10

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Striving for Holiness

There is no way that a Christian can ever be perfect, only forgiven perfectly by God through Christ’s perfect sacrifice. But this doesn’t excuse the believer from striving to live a life of holiness. Even though we have Jesus’ own righteousness attributed to us, which is how God sees us now (2 Corinthians 5:21), we cannot lie back and just coast into the kingdom. We are to grow in holiness, grace, and the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). How can we do this since we all fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23)? How about trying to present your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and acceptable to God because that’s our spiritual duty (Romans 12:1)? We do this by being transformed in our minds by God’s Spirit and not by not being conformed or pressured or shaped into the image of this world (Romans 12:2).

Being Filled With the Spirit

God has given us everything we need to live a godly life through the knowledge of Him Who called us (2 Peter 1:3). We are commanded to make every effort to add to our faith the goodness that can only come from His Spirit (2 Peter 1:5), but we must participate in striving for obedience. This is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, that we are to be obedient in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2). This means we should be careful in how we walk in this life (Ephesians 5:15), know what God’s will is for our life (Ephesians 5:16), and be constantly filled by His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). If we are led by God’s Spirit, we’ll not yield the members of our body to sinful activities.

Living Like a Child of God

God has called us to be kings and priests in His coming kingdom (Revelation 1:6). But some of us–and that includes me–don’t live as if we are.  If there is scandal in our life and we claim to be a Christian, we can bring shame to the cause of Christ. John MacArthur said that we might be the only Bible some people will ever read, and if people see that we’re no different from the rest the world, they will have no desire to become a Christian. In fact, just the opposite might occur because they’ll see the hypocrisy in living a life of duplicity. Are we living the life that God wants for us? If most of us are honest, we must answer not so much–or for some, no, not at all. As Paul wrote, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). If we are not representing the kingdom like good ambassadors should, we cannot attract new citizens to the kingdom.

A Closing Prayer

Father, I know that I fail You so many times. Please convict me when I am sinning and to be the best witness or ambassador for Your kingdom as I possibly can by Your Spirit’s power, and in the King of that kingdom’s name I pray.

Amen

A Shimmering Quality {Passage Genesis 1:27-31}

Verse: Genesis 1:27 Author: Claire Cloninger

 

Just thinking about Eden sometimes gives me an ache in my chest. I find myself wondering about the pure and shimmering quality of life there that somehow slipped through our fingers.

 

Just picture it. it was nothing to begin with. Nothing. And then God opened his mouth and spoke, and when he did, everything started taking shape. He used his words to make a world! He called forth forces of symmetry and beauty and great power. He laid boundaries of order and balance and proportion. With the precision of a master clockmaker he set in motion the weights and wheels of a perfect creation. And then, seeing the beauty of his own handiwork, he proclaimed with pride, “Good. Good.” And “Very good.”

 

Light, darkness, sky, land, water, winds and tides; plants, trees, sun, moon, stars and planets. And animals-flying, soaring, swimming, loping, crawling, galloping. All things in their vast array he created.

Then finally he created human beings, both male and female-his shining glory, whom he put in charge of it all.

 

Additional Scripture Readings: Psalm 8; Psalm 148:1-6; Isaiah 40:25-26; Revelation 4:11

A Lack of Love {Read Psalm 22:1-11}

Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads saying, “Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!” (Ps. 22:7-8).

 

When someone is seriously ill, we think of it as a terrible trial. But emotional and spiritual suffering is worse. We experience emotional suffering when someone betrays or rejects us. We may feel that God has deserted us.

 

This is just what happened to the writer of today’s Scripture. It was bad enough coping with sickness. It was a terrible feeling that God had forsaken him. But when his so-called friends mocked him because he trusted God, it was too much. In their opinion, the only reason why people believed in God was to have someone to help them when they were in trouble. So they ridiculed him and this made his suffering even harder to bear. The words and attitude of his friends showed a total lack of love.

 

When you are seriously ill, some of your “Christian” friends will probably tell you that your condition is caused by a lack of faith. Jesus suffered - and He definitely didn’t lack faith in His Father. Others might say that you must have done something terrible to suffer God’s wrath in this way. Both wicked and good people suffer. Don’t allow anyone to add spiritual suffering to your physical pain by planting seeds of doubt in your mind that your faith is not strong enough. Ignore them and hold on to Jesus through good times and bad. 

 

Lord Jesus, hold me through my dark days and help me to trust You at all times. Amen.

Do You Keep Your Promises? {Read Psalm 22:23-31}

I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship You (Ps. 22:25).

 

Years ago there was a politician who became known as “Piet Promises.” He was given this nickname because he always promised to solve the country’s problems, but never delivered. Many people are like this. It’s easy enough to say that you will do something, but much more difficult to put your words into action.

 

God set David, the psalmist, free from suffering and misery and David wanted to do something big to celebrate his healing. He would go to the temple and bring an offering to God to thank Him for His grace and mercy. Words alone were not enough for the Israelites. You had to praise and thank God with a gift worthy of Him; a gift that cost you something. When everybody saw David doing this, they would be satisfied that he gave God the honor and that he fulfilled the vows he made to God.

 

At some time or another, all of us make promises to God. Perhaps you made a vow to love Him dearly, to serve Him devotedly, to worship Him only, to always put Him first in your life, to give up your previous sinful life. It is likely that you made these vows while you were riding the waves of enthusiasm and emotion. How successful were you in keeping your promises? It is all very well to promise God these things, but it much better to make sure all your plans, vows and dreams lead to positive action.

 

Lord Jesus, I promised to serve You to the end. Enable me to do this through Your Spirit. Amen.

The Source of Praise {Read Psalm 22:23-31}

From You comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly (Psa. 22:25 NIV).

 

What do you praise the Lord for and how much do you do it? When someone has performed a heroic deed, or created an astonishing work of art or a magnificent woodcarving, we praise them by telling them how exceptional they are.

 

Some people can’t tell the difference between thanking God and praising Him. We thank Him for what He has done for us; for the fact that He gave us life; for the beauty of the world around us; for specific things He gives us, like the rain, for healing, for a safe journey; or for obtaining a job. We praise Him because He created the universe; because He rules in glory; because He is the Savior and Helper of those who look up to Him; because He empowers us through His Spirit.

 

In Psalm 22, something very important comes to the fore. David is so happy that God carried him through his trials that he states that God is the one who gives him the theme for his praise: “From You comes the theme of my praise.” In other words, when David praises God, it is God who gives him the gift of praise.

 

God lifts him out of his own foolish and inadequate words and gives him the ideas, words and theme to praise Him. Even the praise we bring the Lord is a gift from Him. If you find it difficult to praise God, pray that He will give you this gift.

 

I want to praise You, Lord; praise You with all my heart! Amen.

Touched and Purified {Read Isaiah 6:1-13}

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven” (Isa. 6:6-7).

 

It is no secret that human beings have disappointed God since the beginning of time with their sinful weaknesses. On top of it, their sin causes a tremendous abyss between God and them. The desire to have our sins removed is an exercise that all religions share. The big question is: How should it be done and who must do it? Many people agonize about their guilt and go to extremes to get rid of it.

 

Isaiah was overwhelmed by his feeling of guilt. But he would soon discover the solution. There was no profound ritual that had to be performed or fine that had to be paid, no formula or words to be chanted. The confession of his sin was as far as he could take the matter. Then God took over and forgave him. In the temple, where sensational offerings were normally sacrificed to atone for sin, no offering was required. God used one of the seraphs who simply touched his impure lips and he was purified. All Isaiah had to do was to be aware of this and accept God’s act of love.

 

If feelings of guilt happen to be your problem, come to Jesus and let Him touch you. You can’t cleanse or forgive yourself - only Jesus Christ can do that. If you want to be healed and need to be spiritually equipped to serve Him better, surrender yourself to His purifying and healing action.

 

Merciful Father, through Christ Jesus purify me, heal and forgive me so that I may serve You better. Amen.

Spiritual Qualifications {Read Isaiah 6:1-13}

Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (Isa. 6:5).

 

Endless discussions take place in Christian circles on the qualities and qualifications necessary for people who have to take leadership positions in groups or congregations. Various systems are used to train people in providing effective spiritual guidance to Christian communities.

 

Isaiah’s vision and calling show us the three fundamental qualifications. First, he had a vision of God. He could say, “Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Direct knowledge of God in which the person involved knows without a doubt that he met with God, is decisive.

 

Secondly, Isaiah saw himself exposed in all his human weakness, fallibility and sinfulness. A crucial part of spiritual leadership is realistic self-conviction and the consciousness of human weakness.

 

Thirdly, Isaiah knew that he had been forgiven and accepted by God. He could go to the people with self-confidence that was not born of his own achievements and competence, but of humility that came from the knowledge that he was dependent on God’s grace. He would serve, knowing that he was nothing in himself and that God was everything.

 

Whoever is a servant of the Lord, or wishes to be His servant, needs this inner equipment. You must meet God face to face, and know that God has accepted you in spite of all your weaknesses. These are the qualities every Christian believer should work on.

 

Father, allow me to see You often and know that You hold me close and want to use me. Amen.

Where Is God’s Glory? {Read Isaiah 6:1-13}

The whole earth is filled with His glory (Isa. 6:3).

 

At first it may seem strange to think that God is majestic, mystical and “completely different.” After all, doesn’t He reveal Himself in Jesus Christ? Isn’t He revealing Himself all the time in the beauty of nature, and the miracle of human life that is filled with grace and empowerment through His Spirit?

 

In Isaiah’s vision the angels surrounding the throne sang about two things: Some called out, “Holy, holy, holy!” Others called out, “The whole earth is filled with His glory!” This response sings the praises of a God that emerges from His sanctuary - if we might put it this way - and makes very clear what, and who, and wherever He is. This is the aspect of God that we can see, know, appreciate and respond to. We may ask, “Where is God?” One answer is, “He is a hidden mystery whom we will never fully know.” But another is, “He is in a rose in all its splendor and glory; in a breathtaking sunset; in the overwhelming grandeur of majestic mountains.”

 

You sense the glory of God and catch hold of it when you gaze in awe at His presence in nature and the work of His hands in a life totally devoted to love and service. Therefore, admire God’s beauty around you - not just for a fleeting moment - absorb it and allow it to fill you with wonderment. Join in with the universal chorus that praises Him, and in which nature, humans and angels all take part. 

 

Creator God, the whole earth is filled with Your glory! Amen.

Holy! Holy! Holy! {Read Isaiah 6:1-13}

They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies!” (Isa. 6:3).

The word holy is a word that many people find difficult to accommodate. We speak of the Pope as the Holy Father. In a moment of great astonishment we sometimes say, “Holy mackerel!” We snidely refer to someone who parades his virtues as a “Holy Joe" or we say he has a “holier than thou” attitude.

Isaiah emphasized more than anyone else that only God is holy. He detested the corruption, sin, unrighteousness and faithlessness. When Isaiah referred to God’s holiness he meant that God was “different.” He rose above weakness and impurity. Habakkuk said to God, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; You cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (Hab.1:13 NIV). It is because of His holiness that God hates sin. When Isaiah chronicled that the seraphs called out “Holy” three times, it was to emphasize and underline God’s holiness. It was to bring home to those who listened to him preach that God does not tolerate the wickedness of the people.

We see holy love in Christ, not just goodness and ordinary love, but the holy love of the Holy God. It is an exceptional kind of love that comes from God and creates love for God. This is why it is godly love instead of human warmth and kindness. Jesus calls on us to love in the holy or godly way that He loved.

Holy Spirit of God, enable me to respect God’s holiness. Amen.

What Is God Saying to You? {Read Isaiah 1:1-10}

Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! (Isa. 1:10 NIV).

 

When strange things happen to us, we sometimes say, “Somewhere in this there must be a lesson for me.” Indeed, the wise find that life teaches them lessons throughout their lives. Whether they take notice of this or learn from it is quite a different matter.

 

It is perhaps not strange that the ancient Hebrews thought of God as a teacher. They even knew the Ten Commandments He gave them to obey as “The Teachings.” Obeying these commandments was learning to be obedient.

 

God’s Son, Jesus Christ, was often referred to as Rabbi or Teacher. His ministry on earth was teaching people about the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ teachings, many of them in the form of stories and parables, are some of the most unforgettable things we will ever hear or learn.

 

What is God’s message for you? You should make it a lifelong task to learn more and more about God. Ask yourself: What is God doing through me by means of this incident? What does the Bible say about this? How is He using these circumstances to show me a better way? You will discover so many interesting, life-changing things that will magnify and deepen your faith and wisdom. Don’t ever stop learning from the Great Teacher.

 

Teacher of life, teach me more and more every day. Amen.

Sometimes Things Go Wrong {Read Isaiah 1:1-10}

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

 

If the LORD of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah (Isa. 1:9).

 

It is so easy for people of faith to think that everything will always be alright. Except for a few problems, nothing can really go wrong in our lives, because God will not allow it. We can soothe ourselves into a state of false security with this attitude. In our modern day and age we trust scientific wonders to solve our problems. This makes us believe even more strongly that nothing can go wrong. But it can and it does.

 

In the ancient world, the twin cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, were destroyed - according to the Bible, by God Himself. Isaiah believed that Jerusalem was in just as much danger, but that it was spared by the grace of God. Later on, 85% of the Israelites were sent into exile by the Assyrians. The rest were later taken captive by the Babylonians.

 

Certainly, disasters do take place. Millions die in wars; just as many die of poverty-related diseases. Humankind’s future is threatened by massive destruction because of climate change and global warming. International tension could easily lead to another world war.

 

Pray for people in authority. Support organizations that work for peace and the upliftment of the poor. See the necessity of conserving our earth and do your part to make it a reality. Pray to God and plead that He will save us from disaster, and look forward to His kingdom to come.

 

Creator God, keep me from being complacent and self-assured about Your world. Amen.

Majestic and Amighty

 {Read Psalm 18:1-16}

 

Friday, January 8, 2016

 

Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of His anger . He opened the heavens and came down. (Ps. 18:7, 9).

 

There are people who say the God they believe in mustn’t be a “watered-down” God. A watered-down God is a weak and timid God, and all He expects is that everyone must be friendly and understanding. This is not enough to sustain faith in the face of unbearable suffering in the world today.

 

David worshiped a revered, majestic and omnipotent God. What David describes in today’s Scripture could have been a volcanic eruption or a mighty thunderstorm. One thing that he was certain of was that God was there - controlling it, using it, talking to humankind through it and destroying his enemies in this way. The great truth here is that God will act in order to save His servants. 

 

The same God appears in the New Testament. He is a strong, and at the same time a loving God. He performed mighty miracles and cast evil spirits out. He commanded the wind and the waves. He raised the dead. He came at Pentecost in the form of fire and wind, and forced open the tomb on Easter Sunday. He offers life and salvation to all who believe in Him. He sent His messengers to proclaim the Good News of His kingdom. His followers are so convinced of His glory and omnipotence that they are willing to die for their faith.

 

Make Him your God, too. He is the true, sovereign and Almighty God.

 

Lord, my God, I worship You forever in Your majesty and glory. Amen.

Freed from the Ropes of Death

 {Read Psalm 18:1-16}

 

Friday, January 8, 2016

The roped of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me ... But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears (Ps. 18:4, 6).

 

Many people have near-death experiences. Once they recover, they often forget how close they were to dying. People are attacked by thugs; others are involved in car accidents; sometimes health problems lead to emergency operations that bring patients close to death’s door. Even natural disasters can be life-threatening. There are people who manage to survive them time after time.

 

David, the writer of Psalm 18, knew what it meant to rub shoulders with death. But he was saved and gave God’s love all the credit for his survival. He is saying, “Human existence is an uncertain affair. I survived - but only just! Without God’s help I wouldn’t have stood a chance. He heard my desperate cry and responded.”

 

Of course we know about many who cried out to God for help in times of tragedy and distress, and died in spite of this. We don’t know why God hears the anguished cries of some and not of others. Cry out to Him in your anxiety, and plead with Him to help you. Follow the example of the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee when they thought they were going to die. Then, if you make it and get through the ordeal alive, remember to give the honor and glory to God for His amazing grace.

 

Thank You, Father God, that You have often heard my anxious cries and saved me from death. Amen.

Good Can Come from Bad?

 {Read Philippians 1:12-26}

 

I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News (Phil. 1:12).

 

When things go wrong in your life, try to remember that often, in some way or another, it happens to all people. The important question is how you react to misfortune, disappointment and frustration. You can become panic-stricken and complain, “This is it; I’ve had it!” You can wallow in self-pity and say, “Just look what happened to me. Why?” Or you could say, “This is a bit of a problem; let me find a way to turn it into something I can use to my advantage, and to the glory of God.”

 

Paul used his exceptional gifts and intelligence to advance the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He traveled far and wide to preach and establish congregations. It was in fact while he was planning more journeys to spread the Good News that disaster struck. He was arrested and locked up. Did this mean it was the end of his mission? Not at all - he started working from prison. He used his time in jail to evangelize the guards and other prisoners and to write letters that help and guide us to this day. What some people saw as a disaster, Paul changed into an opportunity.

 

Do not allow misfortune to ruin you. Find a way to use it to your own advantage. Give it some serious thought and ask God in prayer what He is telling you through your misfortune. It isn’t just a technique of looking for the silver lining to the dark cloud, but must be seen as something God wants you to grab hold of and use to His honor and glory.

 

Holy God, open my eyes to spot the opportunities that You hide in my disappointment. Amen.

When God Speaks

 {Read Jeremiah 31:35-40}

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

“I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jer. 31:37).

The act of speaking has a variety of qualities and authority, depending on who is doing the talking. Some people talk a lot and say nothing - they simply can’t stand keeping quiet. Then there are others who say little, but what they say is regarded as wise and worthwhile. They can make the most profound things seem simple because they are such accomplished communicators.

The Bible creates a deep awareness that God is speaking and that when He speaks He has something very important to say. He spoke to Moses at the burning bush; to Isaiah in the temple; to Samuel in the sanctuary. He spoke forcefully at the birth of Christ when His Word became flesh.

In our Scripture passage for today God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah about a covenant of eternal constancy, trustworthiness and grace. It is as if God is saying, “Listen! This is what I want to say to you. This is My promise and when I make a promise I keep it. You can take My word for it.”

Jesus is God’s Word to us and the entire human race. But sometimes He speaks to you as an individual. He may give an order; or a word of caution and correction. It may be a word of encouragement or comfort, even forgiveness or healing. You cannot force God to speak, but you can be ready to listen when He speaks and then obey Him. Are you ready?

Holy God, make me willing and eager to listen when You speak. Amen.

God’s Constant Faithfulness

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

 

“Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them [Israel] away for the evil they have done. I, the LORD, have spoken!” (Jer. 31:37).

 

Every human has a breaking point. Under a certain amount of pressure you will crack, although the threshold varies from person to person. The interrogation of criminals is meant to “break” people so that they will confess or betray their colleagues. Sometimes it works - then people go back on their loyalties.

 

God didn’t and wouldn’t go back on His covenant to love and care for the people of Israel. No human being can measure the heavens, or fathom the depths of the seas, or tear the cloak of mystery from the universe. Since Jeremiah’s day, science has expanded the limits of human knowledge immensely, but there are still unexplained mysteries and undetermined borders, which God will reveal to us when we get to heaven.

 

Jesus is constant in His commitment to you, no matter how flawed your commitment to Him might be. He will not disappoint you or let you down. You can fully trust Him. He will be the same tomorrow as He was yesterday and He will stand by you today, whatever happens. No matter to what extent the mysteries of creation might elude human understanding, God’s constant faithfulness is no secret and this will never change. Can you say the same about your faithfulness to Him?

 

Faithful God, make me just as constantly faithful to You as You are to me. Amen.

The Lord, the Almighty

The Lord, the Almighty

Monday, January 4, 2016

The LORD appoints the sun to shine by day. He decrees the moon and stars to shine by night. He stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the LORD Almighty is His name (Jer. 31:35 NIV).

 

The most amazing fact in the world is not that God saves, loves and redeems. It is the fact that He is. Compared to this small world of space, time, matter and human beings. He is a God of greatness and majesty, of glory and grace.

 

It was necessary for the Israelites to be reminded of this. They had been conquered by a stronger army and exiled to a miserable existence in a faraway land. There they were forced to serve new masters. It would have been easier for them to give up their faith in God and worship the gods of their Babylonian oppressors; to go with the flow. But Jeremiah confronted them with the fact that their God had always been the Lord, the Almighty; sovereign ruler of the nations and Lord of His entire creation.

 

To this day He is still the Lord, the Almighty. In spite of the increasing confidence of humanity to solve their own problems; in spite of the pressure to be independent of God, they still need God and need to be reminded that He is. There is One who is more important, and rises above the daily realities of money, sex, power and human striving, and saved the human race from their worst misery and misdeeds. He bends down to gain access to your small heart and claim you for Himself. He is the Lord, the Almighty.

 

Lord, the Almighty, I acknowledge You in Your omnipotence and glory. Amen.

Forgive and Forget

Sunday, January 3, 2016

 

“I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins” (Jer. 31:34).

 

A group of high-spirited students once played a prank on the principle of their college. The principle overreacted and the whole business caused quite an upheaval. Lectures were canceled, there was an emergency staff meeting and punishment was meted out. During the course of the day, the students in question decided to apologize, and asked for a meeting with the principle. After listening to their story and apology, the principle answered, “Gentlemen, I accept your apology and there will be no punishment. The incident will be removed from the record books.”

 

We human beings sometimes find it possible to forgive, but we seldom forget. God both forgives and forgets. God made it possible for the people of Israel to start over by forgiving and forgetting their unfaithfulness and disobedience.

 

Jesus offers you the same forgiveness. He is ready and waiting to let you start over with no record of past wrongs. If you turn back to Him, repent, confess and decide to break with your wicked ways, He accepts your confession and says, “I will never even give this another thought.” The record is blank and He puts your sins behind you forever so that you can move on with a clear conscience. You don’t need to feel guilty about anything anymore because you are now in the right relationship with God. You are now free to be a new, mature person “in Christ.”

 

Father God, enable me to follow Your example and to forgive and forget. Amen.